I think it is safe to say that most people remember their first bee sting as a painful experience.  Getting stung is not pleasant and most of us learned from a young age to steer clear of bees.  However, if you are a passionate, innovative 15-year-old named Mikaila Ulmer your first bee sting is a major factor in your story.  11 years before starting her business Mikaila was stung by a bee.  The bee sting combined with the timely arrival of a family lemonade recipe catapulted her into action.  Since that timely sting and via the encouragement of her family Mikaila has since grown her lemonade business exponentially over the last 11 years. What started as a fun way to make some spending money and help educate people about bees has become a growing enterprise for Mikaila.  Nowadays, Mikaila’s lemonade comes in 6 different flavors and is sold in regional Whole Foods, Kroger’s, and restaurants near her home in Texas.  So how did Mikaila become one of the most well-known young entrepreneurs in the country?

One of the biggest factors in Mikaila’s success has been the support of her family.  Entrepreneurs often have good family and friends who encourage them to take risks and keep their head up when things aren’t going well in business.  This was true in the case of Mikaila.  Another important trait I noticed when reading about Mikaila is her desire to care for the environment. Most individuals do not start a business that helps support one of their biggest fears.  When Mikaila was stung she began researching all about bees and decided to start a business to support healthy bee colonies.  Creating spaces for bees to safely produce honey can prevent them from making nests near residential areas.  Mikaila is helping bees thrive by selling a product she loves and believes in.  She is a young entrepreneur full of drive and desire.  Her lemonade business is just the beginning of her entrepreneurial career.